September
14, 2001-- "A
terrorist may choose a target with some symbolic meaning, but he
is not really out to harm a particular person or destroy a particular
object. His purpose is to cause terror. Nor does he seek to terrify
just those who are directly harmed or threatened by the terrorist
attack. He aims to frighten a much larger audience: often an
entire nation."

from
"Threats to Symbols of American Democracy"

by
U.Va.s Critical Incident Analysis Group

The
University of Virginia serves as the center for a flagship group
of experts analyzing Tuesday's incidents. The Critical Incident
Analysis Group is a consortium composed of scholars, law enforcement
officials (including the U.S. Justice Dept. and FBI), and professionals,
such as therapists and psychiatrists, who seek "to analyze,
anticipate, prevent, and mitigate critical incidents."

Lawrence
E. Adams, research director of the CIAG, has studied the interaction
of religion and politics and can speak about political responses
to the crisis and rebuilding efforts. He has worked previously at
the Pentagon and on Capitol Hill.

Adams
may be reached for comment at the office, at (434) 243-3501, or
at home, at (434) 973-1728, or via e-mail at ciag@virginia.edu.

The
Critical Incident Analysis Group's web site address is: http://faculty.virginia.edu/ciag.
Of special note is a recent CIAG publication titled "Threats
to Symbols of American Democracy," which is available online.
An excerpt:

"Nearly
all crimes are called by the name of the criminal act committed
-- murder, robbery, rape, drug trafficking, fraud, tax evasion,
parking at an expired meter. Terrorism is an exception. It is named
not for the act, but for the emotion it causes. In this way, languagerecognizes
the special nature of the crime and its true goal. A terrorist may
choose a target with some symbolic meaning, but he is not really
out to harm a particular person or destroy a particular object.
His purpose is to cause terror. Nor does he seek to terrify just
those who are directly harmed or threatened by the terrorist attack.
He aims to frighten a much larger audience: often, an entire religious
or ethnic community or an entire nation."

ADDITIONAL
U.VA. EXPERTS:

Intelligence

TIMOTHY
NAFTALI is an expert on intelligence and espionage. He has taught
international relations courses, including one on the Cold War in
the Third World. He is an associate professor at the University
of Virginia and the director of the Presidential Recordings Project
and the Kremlin Decision-making Project at the Miller Center of
Public Affairs. Office Phone: (434) 924-6053; Email: tjn3y@virginia.edu

Catastrophic
Terrorism

PHILIP
D. ZELIKOW is a University of Virginia expert on U.S. foreign policy
who has written about catastrophic terrorism. Hes also director
of the Universitys Miller Center of Public Affairs. Office
Phone: (434) 924-7236 or (434) 924-6858; Email: pdz6n@virginia.edu

Helping
Children Cope

PETER
SHERAS, professor of education, University of Virginia. A clinical
psychologist who specializes in adolescent relationships, family
relationships and stress. Has developed an adolescent stress index
that takes into account many things, such as crushes, dating and
peer relationships, that cause stress in youth. Also one of the
lead faculty members in the Virginia Youth Gang and Virginia Youth
Violence projects; as part of that work, he counsels schools nationwide
on factors that can trigger violence among youth. Office phone (434)
924-0795; Home Phone: (434) 973-3536; E-Mail: pls@virginia.edu

DEWEY
CORNELL, professor of education at the University of
Virginia. Author of "Designing Safer Schools for Virginia: A Guide
to Keeping Students Safe From Violence" which describes several
programs, including bullying-reducing programs, that promote school
safety. Offers counseling to schools coping with emotional issues.
Office Phone: (434) 924-0793; Home Phone: (434) 973-3943; Email:
dgc2f@virginia.edu

New
defense technologies

HAYDN
WADLY, associate dean for research at the University of Virginias
School of Engineering and Applied Science, works with the U.S. Department
of Defense on new defensive technologies. Office Phone: (434) 924-0816;
Email hnw4z@virginia.edu

Impact
on the financial markets

EDWARD
T. BURTON, a visiting professor in the University of Virginia department
of economics, he is a private investment banking consultant and
former chairman of the Virginia Retirement System for state employees.
Can comment on the impact on financial markets, investments. Office
Phone: (434) 924-4054; Email: etb6d@virginia.edu

ROBERT
I. WEBB, a professor at the University of Virginas McIntire
School of Commerce and expert in futures markets. Former financial
futures and options trader at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Has
served as senior financial economist at the Executive Office of
the President and the Office of Management and Budget. Office Phone:
(434) 924-3174; Home Phone: (434) 295-8521; Email: riw4j@virginia.edu

University
of Virginia satellite information for electronic media:

U.Va.
has a C-band satellite and studio available for commercial news
use. To make arrangements for use of these supports, contact broadcast
engineers Bob Hutchison or Jason Hartzog in the educational technologies
group in U.Va.'s School of Continuing and Professional

Studies,
located on the lower level of Zehmer Hall. Phone numbers there are
(434) 982-5254 and (434) 982-5267. Bob Hutchison also is reachable
via email at rwh6u@virginia.edu and Jason Hartzog's email address
is jrh2n@virginia.edu. An ISDN phone line can be arranged in Charlottesville
by calling Sarah McConnell at (434) 924-3855.

Contact:
Charlotte Crystal, (434) 924-6858, home (434) 984-1462

FOR
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Contact the Office
of University Relations at (804) 924-7116. Television reporters
should contact the TV News Office at (804) 924-7550.SOURCE: U.Va. News Services